DiMatteo makes CPL all-star roster

FLORENCE — On June 11, Sam DiMatteo couldn’t smell the Coastal Plain League All-Star Game. In fact, he was having trouble just sniffing out his next hit.

With an 0-for-3 game that night, DiMatteo saw his average drop to .187 (6-for-32) with just two RBI through his first 10 games with the Florence RedWolves.

Such a paltry average was foreign territory for the outfielder who hit .405 with a team-high 12 home runs during the spring for California University of Pennsylvania.

“It was all new stuff for me. Playing in front of a bunch of people, playing with new a new team, new coaches,” DiMatteo said. “I was trying to do too much, trying to impress everybody. And when you try to do too much, bad stuff happens.”

On June 12, DiMatteo hit his first homer of the summer, a three-run blast that led the RedWolves to a win over the Wilson Tobs.

From that game going into last night’s game against Wilson, DiMatteo had hit .366 (26-71) to raise his season average to a team-best .311 (32-103). He was tied for second on the team in doubles (5), third in home runs (4), tied for second in RBI (19) and first in stolen bases (8).

Those numbers have earned DiMatteo a selection to the National Team for the 11th annual CPL All-Star Game that will be played at Wilmington’s Buck Hardee Field on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.

DiMatteo is joined on the National squad by RedWolves pitchers Stephen McCray and John Taylor. Other RedWolves could make the American roster, which will be released today.

“I’ve settled in. I’m relaxed,” DiMatteo said. “I knew there might be a chance I’d make the all-star game, but I didn’t get my hopes up because I started so slow. I came back, though, and gave myself a chance.

“I don’t want to get a big head or anything. I’m just out here having fun. I’m going to enjoy being at the game. I’m pretty pumped up about it.”

Taylor, a Florence native, was 3-3 with a team-leading 1.35 ERA going into a start against Wilson last night. He’s been tabbed to start the all-star game.

McCray, out of the University of Tennessee, is 5-1 with a 2.17 ERA.

The National team will be coached by Outer Banks coach Jeff Wicker, while the American team will be coached by Forest City coach Matt Hayes.

Prior to Tuesday’s all-star game, an all-star fan fest and home run derby will be held on Monday night. Gates open Monday at 5 p.m., and tickets are $8 for box seats, $5 for general admission and free for ages 5 and under.